Topic: Challenges to Farmers & The Green Revolution Aim: For what reasons do farmers globally face challenges?

Challenges for Commercial Farmers Overproduction in Commercial Farming Surplus of food is produced due to efficient agricultural practices, new seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, mechanical equipment, and management Despite increase in food supply, demand has remained constant U.S. government has 3 policies to address excessive production Farmers encouraged to avoid producing crops in excess supply Government pays farmers when certain commodity prices are low Government buys surplus production and sells or donates it to foreign governments

Challenges for Commercial Farmers Sensitive land management Protection of soil through ridge tillage (planting crops on ridge tops) Less investment in tractors and other machinery leads to lower costs Minimal soil disturbance Limited use of chemicals 1. Limited herbicides to control weeds Better integration of crops and livestock Find a balance in distribution of livestock for an area Animals consume crops grown on the farm and are not confined to small pens

Sustainable Farming: Farming that preserves and enhances environmental quality -typically generate less money but crops are lower in cost Organic farming is one type 3 factors: Sensitive land management, limited use of chemicals, and better integration of crops and livestock

Organic farm, Whatcom County, Washington Organic farm, Whatcom County, Washington. Crops are planted on ridges close together, with limited use of chemicals and heavy machinery.

Organic Agriculture - sales of organic foods on the rise The production of crops without the use of synthetic or industrially produced pesticides and fertilizers or the raising of livestock without hormones, antibiotics, and synthetic feeds. - sales of organic foods on the rise - grown everywhere - demand in wealthier countries

Challenges for subsistence Farmers: Subsistence Farming and Population Growth Population growth compels subsistence farmers to consider new farming approaches that produce enough food to take care of additional people Increase food supply through intensification of production (leave fallow less years and adopt new farming methods) 5 basic stages Forest fallow Bush fallow Short fallow Annual cropping Multicropping

Challenges for Subsistence Farmers: Subsistence Farming and International Trade To expand production, higher-yield seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, and machinery are needed To generate funds needed to buy these supplies, LDCs must produce something they can sell in MDCs (e.g. fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be out of season) Dilemma: more land devoted to growing export crops, the less land available to growing crops for domestic consumption Some LDCs (especially in Latin America and Asia) choose export crops that can be converted to drugs (e.g. marijuana, opium, coca leaf)

Loss of Productive Farmland: Farmland in danger of being suburbanized as cities expand into neighboring farmlands.

Year Round Rice Production lands that used to be used for family subsistence are now used for commercialized farming with revenues going to the men. women do the work of rice production and see little of the benefit because of the power relations in Gambia

Third Agricultural Revolution Origins in North America (technology) Industrialization of agriculture Mechanization Replacement of human labor with machines Chemical farming Use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides Food manufacturing Addition of economic value through processing, canning, refining, packaging Biotechnology Genetic manipulation Plant breeding 12

Agribusiness (corporate agriculture): Large-scale, extensive farms of several thousand acres or several thousand animals controlled by a single regional business – ‘factory farming’ Large, mutli-national seed, agriculture, and chemical companies own much of this land Agribuisness has significant political power – receive tax breaks, low-cost loans, and direct government subsides

Where the Factory Meets the Farm: Poultry/hogs raised indoors with automatic feeding machines Cattle raised in giant, outdoor feedlots (CAFOS – concentrated animal feeding operation) Specialized Agriculture Push towards: free range poultry, grass fed beef, alternative livestock, non GMO foods, and antibiotic and hormone free foods Wine and Cheese: Champagne can only be labeled if grapes are grown in Champagne region of France Parmesan can only grown in Parma, Italy Roquefort cheese only grown in south of France Anything can be called Cheddar cheese, but technically it comes from Cheddar, England (Somerset) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Yg-c6iBF8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Wh3uq1yTc What do the terms “Natural Flavors” and “Artificial Flavors” mean when they appear on processed, packaged products?

Traditional plant breeding Traditional donor Commercial variety New variety DNA is a strand of genes, much like a strand of pearls. Traditional plant breeding combines many genes at once. (many genes are transferred) X = Desired Gene (crosses) Desired gene Plant biotechnology Desired gene Commercial variety New variety Using plant biotechnology, a single gene may be added to the strand. (only desired gene is transferred) = The Green Revolution involved traditional plant breeding – [CLICK] the exchange of genetic material between related plants to achieve some measure of product improvement Biotechnology or genetic engineering, by contrast, [CLICK] involves the movement of one or more specific genes – sometimes across species – to achieve some desired product improvement It is the latter – genetic engineering … [CLICK] (transfers) Desired gene Traditional breeding involves exchanging all genetic material between two related plants. Genetic engineering usually only involves moving one or two genes and can cross the species barrier. 16

Protests at WTO Meetings …that has become the focus of much discussion, fierce controversy, and sometimes even violent protest – all ingredients for a great classroom lesson 17

Biotechnology: Manipulation and management of biological organisms Recombinant DNA techniques Tissue culture (cloning) Cell fusion Embryo transfer Positive: high yielding, disease resistant “super” plants Negative: periphery excluded by distance and cost + concerns about safety The more recent trend in agriculture has been in the area of biotechnology and genetic engineering [CLICK] Positives [CLICK] Negatives 18

Increase in Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S. The US is a leader in innovation and application of biotechnology in agriculture Source: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/BiotechCrops/ 19

Four crops accounted for nearly all of the global biotech crop area in 2002 But from a practical standpoint, the “big four” biotech crops – both in the United States and globally – are soybeans, corn, cotton and canola. Together they accounted for more than 99 percent of the global biotech planted area in 2001, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications. Source: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications 20

Four countries accounted for 99 percent Four countries accounted for 99 percent* of the global biotech crop area in 2002 Four countries – the United States, Argentina, Canada and China – accounted for more than 99 percent of the global biotech crop area in 2001. The remaining nine countries accounted for the other 1 percent. Within the “1 percent” group, South Africa and Australia were the only countries that grew more than 100,000 hectares of transgenic crops. (A hectare equals 2.47 acres.) *Australia, Bulgaria, Colombia, Germany, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Romania, South Africa, Spain and Uruguay accounted for the remaining 1 percent of biotech crop acres. Source: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications 21

Some Benefits of Genetically Modified Foods As with most controversial topics, there are two sides to this debate 22

Some Concerns about Genetically Modified Foods: Possible adverse effects on human health Introduction of new allergens Antibiotic-resistant genes in foods Production of new toxins Concentration of toxic metals Enhancement of toxic fungi Environmental impacts Dangers not yet identified http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/

Labeling issues: Main argument against labeling of GM food is that it creates unnecessary fears and that there’s no evidence of harm However, how do you even know there’s no evidence of harm when it’s not labeled

Crossing life forms? Suggestion to splice gene from flounder into strawberry to protect it from frost damage Would you eat this?

Globalization has taken GM crops/food products worldwide But it has not been without strong reactions Note: see Biotechnology folder on CD for readings 26

The Green Revolution Invention of high-yield grains, especially rice, with goal of reducing hunger. Includes: increased production of rice, new varieties in wheat and corn, reduced famines due to crop failure (now most famines are due to political problems) Impact (in terms of hunger) is greatest where rice is produced 27

"Miracle" highly-yield seeds have been produced through laboratory experiments at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). IRRI researchers conduct cross-pollination experiments in the institute's greenhouse.

Positives of Green Revolution (GMO’s) Increased crop yields Increased food supply Increased resistance to disease and pests New agricultural products – genetically modified cassava and sorghum for African countries Fattening livestock Improved fruit appearance

Worldwide use of genetically altered crop plants Dominated by maize and soybeeans Warnings by ecologists and geneticests 32

Opposition to Green Revolution Genetically engineered crops are yielding some ethical problems. In the semi-periphery, farmers typically keep seeds from crops so that they can plant the seeds the next year. Companies that produce genetically engineered seeds do not approve of this process; generally, they want farmers to purchase new seeds each year. Many semi-periphery farmers can not afford the new seeds, fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. 33

Limitations of Green Revolution: Limited impact in Africa Environmental: rice, wheat, corn not ideal in all parts of Africa; desertification and water shortages Political: Widespread corruption, insecurity, a lack of infrastructure, and a general lack of will on the part of the governments Environmental problems Vulnerability to pests Soil erosion - less organic material in soil – less fertility Water shortages Increased exposure to toxic materials Dependency on chemicals for production – increased groundwater pollution